Train to Trail

This is a guest article by Whistlestop Arts about a community involvement proposal

Whistlestop Arts have been commissioned by Southeast Communities Partnership to create a series of walking routes connecting six local railway stations with the King Charles III England Coast Path.

The project will include short audio episodes, maps, local information, social media content and a family activity pack. We would love station partners and community groups to help us represent the character, stories and people of each area.

Groups can choose one or more of the following activities, depending on their interests, time and access needs.

Explore and Photograph the Route

Walk some or all of your favourite route between your station and the coast path and photograph the things that interest you. These might include:

• Favourite views or landmarks
• Interesting buildings, public art or local heritage
• Independent cafés, shops and businesses
• Nature and wildlife
• Places that are important to the community
• Small or unusual details that visitors might miss

Photographs could be used in the project’s social media content or family activity pack. Please make sure that anyone who can be clearly identified has given permission to be photographed and only include people from your group.

Design a Podcast Episode Cover

As a group create a piece of artwork that represents the area around your station. This could be:

• A drawing, painting, collage or photograph
• An abstract response to the area
• Artwork inspired by local maps
• A design with a landmark, view or local story

You might invite different members of your group to design a cover and then choose the one you all think should be used as the final design for the cover image for the area’s short audio episode, that will be visible on the Train to Trail webpage.

Contribute Local Facts and Stories

Suggest historical, cultural or community facts that could be included in the family activity pack or audio content. These might relate to:

• Local history and heritage
• Well-known people or events
• Buildings and landmarks
• Food, businesses or local industries
• Local traditions, stories or memories
• Wildlife and the natural environment

Please include the source of any historical information where possible so that we can check the details before publication.

Create a Colouring Activity

Produce a clear A4 black-and-white drawing of something connected to the local area that children and families can colour in. It might feature:

• A local landmark or building
• The railway station
• A coastal view

Selected artwork will be included in the family activity pack.

Recommend Places for the Route

Tell us about the places you think locals and visitors should see between the station and the coast path. You could recommend up to five places, such as:

• A landmark or heritage site
• A good viewpoint
• A café or independent business
• A community venue
• A park, garden or wildlife area
• A place with an interesting local story

These recommendations will help us create routes that reflect what local people value about their area.

How to Take Part

Groups do not need to complete every activity. You can choose the option that works best for your members and respond through photographs, artwork, writing or conversation.

We can begin with a short phone call or online meeting to talk through the project and answer any questions. Completed work can then be sent to us digitally by the 14 December 2026.

Please contact Luna at Whistlestop Arts via whistlestoparts@gmail.com to arrange a conversation or discuss which activity your group would like to choose.

Thank you for helping us create welcoming routes that celebrate the communities between our railway stations and the coast.

Whistlestop Arts